‘Symptoms’ of oblique strain for Wilkerson
O’Day opts for surgery with 2019 in mind; Tillman’s schedule unclear
Orioles rookie utility man Steve Wilkerson got his second straight start at second base Sunday with Jonathan Schoop out of the lineup, but had to leave before the top of the ninth inning with a possible oblique injury.
Manager Buck Showalter said Wilkerson had “the symptoms of an oblique,” marring what was his first two-hit game as a big leaguer. He had the Orioles’ first hit in the third inning, then drove in a run with a double off the center-field wall in the fourth.
“Just bothered him to hit, and I didn’t want to take another chance with him in that last inning,” Showalter said. “He brought it to our attention about the seventh inning, and he wasn’t going to hit again.”
Schoop’s sabbatical ended that inning as he replaced Wilkerson for the ninth.
Showalter was supportive of Schoop, who will return Tuesday.
“Wehadalongconversation yesterday about what he and I [think] — he always has input on it,” Showalter said. “Jon’s not going anywhere. He’s going to figure this out, and he’s going to be a contributor again. He already is defensively.” Wilkerson Wednesday starter unknown: Showalter said the Orioles will decide who will start after Alex Cobb on Tuesday at a later date, noting that he was hoping to stay away from Miguel Castro on Sunday in an effort to get him a start at some point.
Castro pitched the ninth inning Sunday, and the Orioles need a starter Wednesday in Philadelphia to fill the spot of Dylan Bundy.
Last time Bundy’s spot came up, the Orioles used Jimmy Yacabonis followed by Yefry Ramírez. But those two were both optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, and can’t return without a player going on the disabled list. O’Day surgery update: Orioles reliever Darren O’Day said surgery on his right hamstring injury was the only option after receiving a second opinion Friday, with no guarantee that rehabilitating the injury would put the problem behind him.
“It’s not a complete tear off the bone, but most of it is off,” O’Day said. “I need to functionally get it fixed so it just doesn’t happen again. They told me that if I didn’t have surgery, it would be 10-12 weeks, which puts me in September, and more than likely it would happen again at some point.
“So, if I get it fixed, it’s six months. So that’s a pretty arduous recovery, but it’ll put me in better shape next year to be able to compete and not always be wondering if my hamstring was going to go again.”
O’Day suffered what he described as a pop Tuesday while attempting to field a bunt, and said Sunday that it’s been a longstanding problem with this right hamstring. He said it wasn’t connected to the left hamstring that hampered him in 2016.
O’Day said he believed he’d have the surgery locally, and as soon as possible, with a period of inactivity and immobility required to let the hamstring heal after it’s repaired. NowordonTillman: Showalter didn’t get a report other than looking at the boxscore of right-hander Chris Tillman’s rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk — 31⁄ innings of eight-hit, five-run ball with a walk and three strikeouts.
“It didn’t look very good statistically,” Showalter said. “I probably know the same thing that y’all do at this point. I haven’t talked about it yet this morning. We’ve got a lot of other things going on.”
Showalter said he would have to wait to speak with pitching instructor Ramón Martinez, who was in Norfolk with him, plus executive vice president Dan Duquette before knowing the next step. Around the horn: Infielder Corban Joseph, who was designated for assignment Friday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to a Double-A Bowie, the team announced. … … Sunday at Camden Yards, 7-year-old Chloe Brown of Essex got a VIP experience with the umpire crew before the gamethanks to Casey Cares, UMPSCareCharties, and Major League Baseball, featuring a meet-and-greet with crew chief Tom Hallion and his crew and a behind-the-scenes look at Camden Yards. Brown is being treated for a brain tumor at Johns Hopkins Hospital.